Physical changes on Zoloft

[SoloBratt]

I am a 35 y/o female whith 2 children ages 5 yrs and 9 months. I went through yrs of infertlitly to have these kids, with my daughter I had MANY complications. Incompetant cervix, Pre term Labor, Pre-E and finally class 1 HELLP (platelets 21,000). Although my daughter was fine, it took over 2 yrs for me to recover physically and decide to have a second child. With My son I had GD and then Probable Pre-E HELLP set in at 35 weeks I had a C sec.  He had Some breathing and reflux probs that lasted for almost 5 months but recovered. This was around the end of September. In Mid Oct. I began to feel out of sorts = low energy,tired all the time loss of interest in alot of things.  In Decmber I began to suffer panic attacks. (dr dx'd this after several tests to rule out heart and other probs) I was put on Paxil and ativan.  I had ALOT of side effects from paxil= extreme anxiety and a tight feeling on my head (like my hair was too tight) in time it made me feel worse so I was changed to Zoloft. With in a week I felt better BUT my pupils began to dialate randomly and I had a tight feeling again but this time it was my head, neck & shoulders.  It could get unbearable. When the pupil prob persisted I was admitted and saw a neurologist who did even more tests EEG,ECG,CD,CT,MRI,MRA all normal.  I was sent home put on Ideral and told I had migraines.  I have No real history of Migraines and feel these symptoms are coming from the Zoloft. I have found some information that lists pupil abnormalities and the tight feeling to Zoloft but the Dr insists on Migraine.  Any Ideas?

LW

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Its really impossible to make a definitive diagnosis through this media, but here is some information that may help you sort this out.  It is likely that you are experiencing more anxiety symptoms, and that you would benefit from counseling rather than medication change.  You have a lot going on, and a lot of trauma to your body to recover from, and a lot of ongoing responsibilities to cope with.

Its also possible that the headaches and pupil changes are from the Zoloft, but that is quite unlikely, especially because Zoloft is frequently used to control headaches.  If the headaches are a rare side effect, then lowering the dose and adding another medication, like klonopin or ativan or wellbutrin, might be the best...and allow you to keep the beneficial effects of Zoloft.

If the headaches persist, ask your doctor to try a new combination of medications along the lines suggested. AT this point it is a matter of experimenting and trials.

[SoloBratt]

A few things I forgot to add to my first post.  I have been on inderal almost 2 weeks with NO change in my pupil problem. also they do not dialate evenly it's usually one or the other and it happens several daily.  The tight feeling does seem to be much less but they also prescibed naproxen 500 mg 3 times a day and I belive that is what is helping (if I stop taking it I can feel it coming back).  I guess my concern is, if this is being caused by the Zolft will there be any LONG term damage to my eyes if I continue taking it and the dialation continues to happen.  It really does make me feel MUCH better mentally and emotionally but I don't want to compromise my health in other ways.

Thank you
LW